Eighths to d



No. 6I9,33l.

F. monmsou. conszr surnames.

(Application filed Jan. 2.8, 1898.) (N 0 M o d e1.)

Patented Feb. [4, I899.

UNITEE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS MORRISON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF FIVE- EIGHTHS TO D. HASTINGS AND EDWVARD DILLON, OF SAME PLACE.

CORSET-STIFFENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 619,331, dated February 14, 1899.

Application filed January 26, 1898- Serial No. 668,011. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANCIS MORRISON, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oorset-Stiffeners, of which the following is a specification.

One object of my invention is to provide a [O stiffener of relatively great strength and of sufficient flexibility and in which the parts are so combined as to obviate puncturing of the cover and adapted to afford each freedom of motion at its ends.

The nature, characteristic features, and

scope of my invention will be more fully understood from the following description,taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, and in which Figure 1 is a side View of a stiffener em bodying features of my invention. Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the outside of the same, showing a portion of the cover removed. Fig. 3 is a detached side view drawn to an en- 2 5 larged scale and illustrating the intermediate plates as shorter than the outside and inside plates and as having, together with the inside plate, a permanent inward set. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view drawn to an enlarged scale and showing means for connecting the plates together at their centers in such manner that their ends are free. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the clip drawn to an enlarged scale, and Fig. 6 is a sectional view illustrating the center portion of one of the plates.

In the drawings, 1 is the outside plate, which may be constructed of spring metal, as heretofore, and the upper portion of which is 0 comparatively straight.

2 is the inside plate, and it is of less length than the outside plate 1.

3, 4, and 5 are plates of gradually-decreasing length, and they are interposed between 5 the inside and outside plates 1 and 2, so that the latter take up the thrust of their ends, and thus protect the cover 6.

All of the plates are provided at or near their centers with an offset 7, such as may be formed by a center punch before the plates are tempered. These ofisets 7 are all nested,

as shown in Fig. 3, and are held to place, as by a clip 8. This construction constitutes means for securing the center portions of each of the plates without weakening them and in such manner that the ends of the plates are free to slide the one upon the other. The inside leaves have a permanent inward set, as shown in Fig. 3, so that when the cover 6 is applied to all the plates the inside plates by reason of their set, as well as of their resiliency, tend to prevent the stiifener as a whole not only from acquiring a permanent outward set, but also from accidental breakage.

It has been suggested to make corset-stiffeners of a number of plates. However, in them the plates were usually connected at or near their ends, as well as at other points throughout their lengths. Such connections not only weakened the plates, but also inter- 7o fered with the flexibility of the stiffeners. Moreover, in such stiffeners the shortest plate was on the outside and the succeeding plates were of increasing length, so that their ends projected into position for exerting their 7 5 thrust not upon the outside and inside plates, as in myinvention, but upon the cover, which they easily penetrate.

The advantages of my stiffener are, briefly, that the ends of the inner plates work between the outside and inside plates, whereby the cover is protected. The plates are well connected at their centers, and their ends are free to move, thus imparting elasticity to the stiffener. The inside plates have a permanent inward set, and thus tend to maintain the stiffener straight throughout the upper portion of its length even after considerable use.

Having thus described the nature and objects of my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. Acorset-stiffener comprising the combination of metallic outside and inside plates inclosed in a flexible cover, a series of shorter plates of different lengths disconnected ex- 5 cept at a point intermediate of their lengths and mounted between the outside and inside plates which receive the thrust of the free portions of said series of shorter plates, and means for binding all the plates together at too said point so as to leave their, end portiofis free to slide an'raspeet to eachbtliet'i," sflbstan tially as described.

2. A corset-stifiener comprising the combination of metallic outside and inside plates inclosed in a flexible cover, a series of shorter sprrn'g' lats effifffiirenningth haviiig'th'ir V end erfiens area's-nu being-' piaeed bet-mew the outside and inside plates which receive to the thrust of the free end portions,-the inside 7 plates having @Epermanent inward set and ea'eh beingmreviaed witlmmbifsfiland a clip for connecting the plates, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto 15 signed my name. I H w v FRANCI-MGRRISGNE Is preseneemfi W. J. JACKSON,

M. GILLIGAN. 

